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  • Christmas concerts and carols allowed in NSW aged care

    Author: AAP

Carols and Christmas concerts will be allowed in NSW aged care homes and residents can have as many visitors as they like as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Aged care residents in NSW will be able to host as many Christmas visitors as they want as regulations imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 into the facilities are eased.

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The two-visitor rule will be lifted from Tuesday, NSW Health says.

There will no limit on the number of people allowed to visit each resident.

Performers like choirs and musicians will also be able to visit for the first time since March for festive traditions of carols and Christmas concerts.

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The news comes as NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday recorded 10 consecutive days without a locally acquired COVID-19 case.

"The risk of transmission in the community is now low enough to facilitate the easing of restrictions for aged care, just as the NSW government has eased restrictions across many other areas," NSW Health's director of aged care Stefanie Williams said in a statement on Monday.

"Social connections are important to all of us, but particularly to residents in aged care. We are very pleased to enable residents to spend time with more of their loved ones this festive season."

The changes were announced as NSW public health orders forcing employers to consider work-from-home arrangements for staff are wound back.

Employers are now able to recall staff to NSW offices if they see fit, which Treasurer Dominic Perrottet hopes will spur productivity improvements.

"What I think we'll see over this time is a combination of people working from home, returning to the city, doing both," Mr Perrottet told reporters.

"If that increases productivity then that's a great thing.

"We want to have as much culture and as much life, particularly over the weekends as well, to bring people back to town."

Transport Minister Andrew Constance has again implored Sydney commuters to wear masks on public transport.

The NSW government has repeatedly declined to mandate mask usage on public transport, saying it doesn't want to adopt a "big stick" approach.

Transport for NSW also on Monday increased passenger limits for public transport services, with trains permitted up to 86 people per carriage and buses allowed 27 passengers on board.

"Please help us out - whack them (masks) on. I know it might be inconvenient, but please do it for your own safety and safety of others," Mr Constance told reporters.

Three cases of COVID-19 were on Monday also uncovered in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

Some 6173 tests were recorded in the 24-hour period, and NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty said one COVID-19 patient was in intensive care.

He encouraged NSW residents to seek testing with even mild symptoms.

"With restrictions eased, borders having reopened and Christmas less than two weeks away, it is important we remain vigilant," Dr McAnulty said in a statement.

NSW Health on Sunday lifted orders barring entry to NSW to those associated with SA's Parafield cluster. The state is now open to all people in Australia and New Zealand.

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